Is the following authentic?
Marry, for the best person of this ummah [Nabi sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam] had many wives. The reference given is Sahih Bukhari.
Answer
This narration is certainly recorded in Sahih Bukhari.
Sa’id ibn Jubayr (rahimahullah) said, “Ibn ‘Abbas (radiyallahu ‘anhuma) asked me, ‘Are you married?’ I replied, ‘No.’ He said, ‘Marry, for the best person from this Ummah [i.e. Nabi sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam] had the greatest number of wives.’
(Sahih Bukhari, Hadith: 5067)
Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah Ibn ‘Abbas (radiyallahu ‘anhuma) explained that remaining unmarried is not preferable. If it it was the preferred thing to do, the Nabi of Allah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) would have certainly remained unmarried. Rather, he chose to marry several women.
(Fathul Bari, Hadith: 5069)
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.
Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar
Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar